Mar 1, 2010

Untitled, J.Lamb

Untitled
By Joseph Lamb

Keys to life,
they may jangle
inconsequentially .
Learn to unlock the
hearts of ten million
souls without consent.
These lonely souls are atavistic,
and need a home.
No destinations for them,
and societies appeal for the
starveling has disappeared.

Daily Chores, D.P.Barbare

Daily Chores
By Danny P. Barbare


Watering
the
flowers

the
Petunias

on
a
summer's
day

after
the
water
becomes
cold

from
a
hose
that
is
green

especially
when
the
wind
blows

unexpectedly.

Fire, J.Swenson

Fire
By Jack Swenson


He sat down at the bar and ordered a Diet Coke. She breezed in ten minutes later. "Sorry I'm late," she said. He waved it off.

He looked at her across the table. He smiled. Eskimo eyes. She had squinty eyes. That's why he didn't like her. You can't tell what someone is thinking if you can't see her eyes.

She said what she had come to say. She spoke her mind. At first it was just chit chat. “No more drinking, she asked? Never, ever?” He nodded. “One day at a time,” he said.

But that wasn't it. That wasn't what was on her mind. That came after they had their lunch. "Seen Janet since you've been back?" she asked. He shook his head. "No," he lied.

She pointed her face at him. "I don't believe you," she said. He shrugged. He leaned forward and put his hand on hers. "It's you and only you," he said.

She took back her hand. She started to cry. He gave her his handkerchief. She dabbed her eyes.

He told her a story he had heard in rehab. A woman (with eyes just like hers) was at the front of the room telling her story. She looked worn out, exhausted. She had fallen asleep smoking a cigarette. She was drunk. The house burned down, and her two children were killed.

He shook his head. He looked earnestly at her. His eyes flicked back and forth, scanning her face. "Can you imagine?" he said. "How could you live with something like that?"

They left the restaurant together. When they got outside, he put on his sunglasses. They went their separate ways. She made a U-turn and drove past as he started his car. She waved. He looked both ways, then pulled out and drove off in the opposite direction.

Untitled, K.Ailes

Untitled
By Katie Ailes

Jesus came into my Starbucks today
Ordered a caramel machiato
skim milk
extra espresso
no whipped cream
Please.
I saw his cross behind him
Like so many sandbags
Dark musky aura
Baggage.
Christ
stirred with his pinky finger out
And burned his tongue when he sipped.
I looked for golden bubbles on his lips
When he said ‘Thanks.’
I must have blinked,
for all I saw was a need for Chapstick.
When he walked out,
I found a splinter of his cross
on the tiled floor.
I swept it into the dustbin
With the rest of the refuse of the
children of God.

Huddle, E.Miller

Huddle
by
Eric Miller

[Removed by Authors Request]